Conserving Bicknell’s Thrush through reforestation

Location

Sierra de Bahoruco (principally Parque Nacional Sierra de Bahoruco and Miguel Domingo Fuertes National Monument) and Sierra Septentrional (principally Reserva Cientifica Loma Quita Espuela), Dominican Republic

About the project:

Since 2015 the American Bird Conservancy (ABC) and its partners have reforested 20 hectares with native species in and around the Loma Quita Espuela Scientific Reserve with local farmers in the buffer zones of the nature reserves. ABC has supported the improved protection of the 9,247 ha Loma Quita Espuela Scientific Reserve.

ABC works most directly with Sociedad Ornitológica Hispaniola, now SOH Conservation (SOH) and Fundacion Loma Quita Espuela (FLQE). They also collaborate and coordinate with the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (MARENA), Cluster Turisitco de Barahona, Consorcio Ambiental Domnicano, La Reserva Privada El Zorzal, Grupo Jaragua, Zorzal Chocolate, the Vermont Center for Ecostudies and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Along with partners, ABC has restored 12.6 hectares through native plant propagation and reforestation within Parque Nacional Sierra de Bahoruco. We have also supported the Ministry of the Environment to improve the protection of this national park (50,817 ha) and the Loma Charco Azul Biological Reserve (17419 ha), which ABC helped create in 2010.

American Bird Conservancy (ABC) works with SOH, FLQE and other partners to conserve, protect and restore important bird habitats in public and private nature reserves in the Dominican Republic. All projects include habitat protection, capacity building for forest protection, some aspect of restoration and community outreach and education. Nearly 90% of entire population of the endangered Bicknell’s thrush migrate during the winter to the island of Hispaniola, mostly to the DR. The Septentrional mountains of the DR, have been identified by scientists as a critical area for Bicknell’s thrush and, in particular, females of the species. In these region, the partners are working to promote native species reforestation and cacao production to restore degraded habitat and reduce threats to the multiple protected areas of the region.

Investment type